Sinn Féin - On Your Side

Latest Statements

An Chéad Dáil

Here is the much
celebrated video shown at Sinn Féin's An Chéad Dáil event in the Mansion
House Round Room on January 12, 2019. Sinn Féin former Mayor of Dublin
Mícheál Mac Donncha wrote and presents this historic and inspiring
reflection of the events of 100 years ago.

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Sinn Fein MEP Bairbre de Brún has today met with EU Commissioner for
Regional Development, Danuta Hûbner, to make the case for a Peace III fund.

The meeting, which is part of Sinn Fein's ongoing lobby for the peace
programme, was described by the MEP as 'positive and constructive'. The
meeting also dealt with the Commissioner's forthcoming visit to Ireland and
the issues of cross border and transnational cooperation and the
infrastructural deficit in the North West Region.

Speaking after the meeting Ms de Brún said:

"Today's meeting with Commissioner Hubner was positive and constructive. She
has a clear grasp of the political and economic realities on the ground in
the north of Ireland and a desire to assist in seeing the dividends of the
peace process maximised.

"The Commissioner had indicated to me at the end of last year her intention
to visit the North of Ireland in the course of 2005. I am delighted that she
has now set a date for a visit to Ireland in early June and I have asked her
to include a visit to the North in that schedule. I look forward to her
seeing at first hand the benefits that have arisen from EU support for peace
and reconciliation.

"I presented Commissioner Hubner with a revised dossier on the need for a
Peace III programme, covering the 2007 to 2013 period. The document outlined
the strengths and weaknesses of previous peace programmes, and made a series
of suggestions of how to make the most of future PEACE and IFI programs.

"I outlined the need for community based organisations to be fully involved
in the design and implementation of the funding programmes. I explained the
need for future funds to be directed to the twin goals of reconciliation and
social inclusion, in order to combat the legacy of the conflict particularly
for those most marginalised in recent decades.

"I also stressed the need for any future funds to be allocated strictly on
the basis of need.

"During the meeting we also discussed the need to enhance cross border
integration and both cross border and transnational co-operation. EU funding
provides member states with opportunities to develop cross border projects.
A new Commission proposal to develop European Groupings for Cross border
Cooperation would provide added impetus for this.

"We also discussed the need for a greater focus of EU regional policy on the
North West region, including Derry, Sligo, Cavan, Monaghan, Tyrone and
Fermanagh. Several decades of Irish and British government under investment
have created a significant infrastructural deficit in this area which needs
to be overcome. Again under the new EU funds there will be opportunities for
government and communities to come together and tackle these problems. Doing
this in a cross border context would create significant added value to
existing projects and initiatives.

"Today's meeting was a constructive engagement on a number of very important
issues. Through my membership of the European Parliament's Regional
Development Committee I will continue to highlight and work on these issues.
It is incumbent upon all Irish MEPs to work together to achieve positive
outcomes for the people of the island and I will be more than happy to play
my part in this." ENDS

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Sinn Féin spokesperson on Equality and Human Rights, Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD
has indicated that the Sinn Fein TDs will call a vote against the
Government's Disability Bill in the Dail tomorrow.

Deputy O Snodaigh said:

"Sinn Fein strongly supports the need for a rights-based Bill for People
with Disabilities. However, the Bill currently before the House is not a
rights-based Bill. It is a resource-based Bill. In fact, it protects the
state rather than People with Disabilities. It is regressive and may
actually reduce protections available to People with Disabilities. For
these reasons, this Bill is no more acceptable to Sinn Fein than the
previous Bill that was withdrawn by the last Government in shame. People
with Disabilities and their families deserve better than this.

"I am calling on the Minister for Justice to withdraw this Bill and produce
new rights-based legislation that is consistent with the recommendations of
the Disability Legislation Consultation Group in its report Equal Citizens
and the 1996 recommendations of the Commission on the Status of People with
Disabilities. Nothing less will be acceptable to Sinn Féin.

"It is unfortunate, but if the Government insist on this fundamentally
flawed Bill Sinn Fein will be forced to call a vote against it tomorrow."
ENDS

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Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams today joined Foyle Westminster candidate
Mitchel McLaughlin for a billboard unveiling at Free Derry corner, before
meeting with members of the Foyle Search and Rescue team.

Speaking from Derry Mr Adams said:

"This is a crucially important election. It is about the future - the type
of Ireland we want to build. It is about the peace process and its success
or failure. And it is about leadership - who is best to give the kind of
leadership that will end conflict, build equality and make this century
different from all those which have preceded it.

"My appeal to the IRA is about leadership - giving leadership. The SDLP and
DUP have dismissed this initiative as a con trick. It is not. I believe that
this initiative can make the difference. The Peace Process is at a defining
point. Irish Republicanism is at a defining point. Big decisions have to be
taken. I am asking people to support Sinn Féin record on the peace process
and our efforts to find a way forward." ENDS

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Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams has rejected Irish Minister Dermot Ahern's
defence of his electioneering in South Down last week and has criticised the
Justice Minister Michael McDowell's intervention on behalf of the SDLP in
South Belfast tomorrow.

Mr. Adams said:

"Contrary to Minister Ahern‚s lame protestations I have no objection to
government Ministers coming north.In fact as he knows I have lobbied for
Ministers to be involved in all aspects of life in the six counties. It is
good to remind them that the nation does not stop at the border. For
example, Minister Ahern could usefully spend an afternoon in the militarised
zone of South Armagh. And when Ardoyne, Short Strand and Garvaghy Rd were
under siege the presence of Ministers would have been very welcome.

"I merely raise the fact that until now while all the southern parties have
electioneered against Sinn Féin, government Ministers avoided such blatant
interference. Perhaps I touched a soft spot." ENDS

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Sinn Féin Assembly member for Newry & Armagh Conor Murphy today said that it
would come as no surprise to nationalists and republicans that David Trimble
today called on the electorate to vote for the SDLP and UUP.

Mr Murphy said:

"For decades the SDLP and UUP were in the ascendancy yet at no time did
either party come close to delivering the sort of inclusive process which
could deliver us a road map away from conflict and division. Sinn Féin
entering the political negotiations brought that dynamic. It was a
negotiation process involving republicans which ultimately succeeded after
years of failed talks processes headed by the UUP and SDLP.

"It was Sinn Féin who brought the issues of the constitutional position,
policing, demilitarisation, equality and human rights to the table. These were
issues which the unionist parties were allowed to avoid in all of the
previous political talks.

"It should therefore come as no surprise that the UUP leader David Trimble
is harking back to the days when the unionist establishment dictated the pace
of political change and elements of the SDLP blinded by party political
interests support this position. However those days have gone, Sinn Fein
have ensured that. Mr Trimble needs to realise that the days of nationalists
accepting the badge of second class citizenship have gone and are not coming
back."ENDS

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South Belfast Sinn Féin Assembly member Alex Maskey today said that the
decision by Alasdair McDonnell to invite Michael McDowell into the
constituency on Monday while Pat Rabbitte travelled to Derry with Mark
Durkan was further evidence of growing divisions within the SDLP leadership
over policy and direction.

Mr Maskey said:

"It is now very clear that the SDLP is a deeply divided party. This got some
public airing over the selection of a candidate in West Tyrone. All that
unites the SDLP is an anti- Sinn Féin hysteria.

"In the past week Fianna Fail have attached themselves to elements within
the SDLP, the Irish Labour Party have joined other parts of the party and
now we learn that Alasdair McDonnell is inviting Michael McDowell into South
Belfast. None of this is about policy, it is all a desperate bid to stop the
continuing rise in Irish republicanism and the journey towards Irish unity
and independence.

"By this action and previous actions including joining with unionists in
City Hall to become Deputy Mayor in defiance of John Hume, McDonnell clearly
finds himself at home as the leading unionist within the SDLP ranks. Michael
McDowell has never lifted a finger in defence of the rights and entitlements
of northern nationalists, he recently of course claimed that inequality in
society was a positive thing and his record on ethnic minorities is
appalling. Alasdair McDonnell is clearly now openly endorsing these PD
positions." ENDS

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Sinn Féin Donegal County Councillor, Pádraig Mac Lochlainn and Limavady
Borough Councillor, Anne Brolly have said they will be demanding answers as
to how Lough Foyle Ferry Company subsidised by both councils has not been
paying some of its staff the legal minimum wage. Cllr Mac Lochlainn has been
informed that some staff working on the Magilligan/ Greencastle Ferry are
receiving a wage of €5.60 per hour or €210 for an average 37.5 hour week,
which is well below the legal minimum wage of €7 per hour in the 26
counties. The Lough Foyle Ferry Company is subsidised €108,000 by Donegal
County Council and £55,000 by Limavady Borough Council per annum in a joint
cross border tourism initiative to operate the Magilligan/ Greencastle Ferry.

Cllr Mac Lochlainn said:

"I have to say that as an elected member of Donegal County Council, I am
extremely concerned at information I have received that this company,
subsidised to the tune of €208,000 per annum by Donegal County Council to
operate the Magilligan/ Greencastle Ferry and the Buncrana/ Rathmullan Ferry
are currently not paying some of their workers the minimum wage. If my
information is correct, then it is nothing short of an absolute disgrace.
Particularly in the context of figures that Donegal County Council were
presented with, outlining the great success of the Ferry so far. Failure by
employers to pay their employees the minimum wage is nothing short of
exploitation and we in Sinn Féin will not condone exploitation.

"I will now be asking the County Manager, Michael McLoone to immediately
undertake an investigation in to this situation. My party colleague, Cllr
Anne Brolly will be taking a similar initiative in Limavady Borough Council.
If the allegations prove correct, then they must have serious repercussions
for the company involved. At the very least, I will be demanding that all
staff employed by the company immediately receive the minimum wage and then
the increase to €7.65 per hour in May. As well as this, I will be demanding
that any staff that have not received the minimum wage to date will be paid
all the backdated wages owed to them before one more penny of tax payers
money is given to this company.

"We will also be calling for a review of both Donegal County Council's and
Limavady Borough Council's funding criteria to ensure that any business
receiving subsidies is checked on its employment procedures in relation to
paying the legal minimum wage required in each jurisdiction.

"I would also call on any workers who suspect that they are not being paid
the legal minimum wage to immediately contact any of our elected
representatives with their complaint."ENDS

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East Belfast Sinn Féin Representative Deborah Devenny this afternoon
contrasted the approach of unionist politicians to the raid on the UUP
offices in Castlereagh with their approach to the raid on the Sinn Féin
Offices in Stormont.

Ms Devenny said:

"When the Sinn Féin Offices in Stormont were raided the PSNI had briefed
the media in advance to ensure maximum publicity and senior Special Branch
figures including the DUPs Bill Lowry briefed selected members of the media
on the operation.

"Today the offices of the UUP were raided in Castlereagh Council and the
home of a senior elected representative was also raided as part of an
investigation into money laundering. Correctly no media were informed until a
fter the raid was completed. As republicans well know the fact that the PSNI
raid a home or office does not imply any guilt. However what is stark is the
approach to this news by the unionist political parties.

"In the wake of the Stormont raids despite the fact that nobody has been
convicted of any offence and many of the original charges have since been
dropped, the UUP collapsed the political institutions and the DUP made false
allegation after false allegation accusing republicans of criminality and
spying.

"It will seem to many within the broad nationalist community that an
entirely different approach has been adopted today by the political leaders
of unionism in the wake of these raids." ENDS

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Sinn Féin West Belfast councillor Tom Hartley has called for an end to a
feud within the traveller community in West Belfast after a machete attack
today in the Hawthorne Street area.

Cllr Hartley said:

"It is time for this inter-traveller feud to stop. This is the third attack
in this area and people are being seriously injured. There is also a huge
risk of people being caught up in this violence, particularly young children.

"Cool heads must prevail or else there is a danger that someone will end up
dead.

"Sinn Fein are prepared to meet with representatives of the travelling
community and try and mediate in this situation."ENDS

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Sinn Féin yesterday received an e-mail communication from the Independent
Assembly member Kieran Deeny requesting that the Sinn Féin President Gerry
Adams withdraw the West Tyrone MP Pat Doherty from the forthcoming election to
allow Dr Deeny a free run in the election.

Mr Adams today responded to Dr. Deeny and the text of this letter is below.

15 April 05

Kieran Deeney

Constituency Office

51 Market Street

Omagh BT78 1EL

Kieran a chara

Thank you for your letter of 13 April 05. You ask that Sinn Fein stand
aside in west Tyrone to allow you to contest the election as an independent.
I see no reason why we should do that. If you want to be elected as MP
for West Tyrone then you should go forward on the same basis as all other
candidates.

You ask that I withdraw the Sinn Fein candidate and outgoing MP, Pat
Doherty. You should be aware that, even if I wanted to do this - and I
don't - Pat has been duly selected by an election convention and ratified by
the Ard Chomhairle of our party. I have no authority to overturn this
process.

You also know that Sinn Fein, led by Pat Doherty, has a record of solid
campaigning on the issue of hospital services in Tyrone. You have been on
joint delegations along with Pat and local MLA Barry McElduff to meet with
the British Health Minister on this issue.

We have brought forward unified proposals on how to bridge the gap on acute
service provision in Tyrone. Along with other parties and individuals Sinn
Féin has set aside political differences to lobby along with the other six
West Tyrone MLAs for a bridging of the 'Tyrone Gap'.

The issue of hospital services in Tyrone is a major priority for Pat
Doherty. So also are efforts to rebuild the peace process, advance the
all-Ireland agenda and continuing work on the wide range of other social and
economic issues which Pat has campaigned on over the past number of years.

Sinn Fein provides an unrivalled constituency service for the people of West
Tyrone, with two full time constituency offices in Omagh and Strabane and we
offer effective political representation at all levels in the constituency.

This level of service for the people cannot be provided by an independent
single candidate. Neither can you hope to take up a ministerial position on
the Executive when the political institutions are put in place once again.
For all these reasons you should throw your weight behind Pat Doherty's
campaign.

Sinn Fein have an obligation to the people of West Tyrone who have put us
into a leadership role in the constituency to once again offer them the
choice of voting for our party on 5th May. If the people decide once again
to put their faith in Pat Doherty then I am sure that Pat and my other
colleagues in West Tyrone will look forward to continuing to work with you
to address the issue of health provision and of course the other issues
which matter to people in that area.

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Sinn Fein spokesperson on Social and Family Affairs Sean Crowe T.D. today
questioned the decision by the Government to contest a legal action brought
by a lesbian couple seeking to have their Canadian marriage recognised.
Deputy Crowe said that the Government's decision is both "surprising and
disappointing" and that it amounted to a pre-judgment of the work being
currently carried out by the Constitution Committee which is considering
the constitutional articles which deal with marriage and the family.

Deputy Crowe said:

"The Government's decision to contest the case being taken by Katherine
Zappone and Ann Louise Gilligan who are seeking to have their Canadian
marriage recognised is both surprising and disappointing. It is surprising
because these issues are currently being considered by the Oireachtas All
Party Committee on the Constitution which is examining the articles in the
1937 Constitution which deal with marriage and the family. The decision to
contest the case is reportedly based on the Government's fear of the
financial and social implications of recognising same-sex marriages.
Equality and the recognition of equal rights should not be dependent on
financial implications. The Government shoud have based its decision on
what is right and just rather than on the financial implications.

"The refusal to recognise same sex partnerships, regardless of equivalent
permanency, denies lesbians and gays equal access to a broad section of
rights available to heterosexual married couples. That this denial of
rights is based on the financial implications of vindicating such rights is
scandalous. The lack of protection for gay and lesbian partnerships has
permitted the government to introduce regressive provisions such as that
introduced in the Civil Registration Bill 2003 specifically excluding same
sex couples from the benefits of the legislation - which I opposed at the
time.

"In our submission on the family to the Oireachtas All-Party Committee on
the Constitution Sinn Féin argues strongly for full equal rights for same
sex partnerships." ENDS

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Sinn Féin spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade and Employment Arthur Morgan
has confirmed that Sinn Fein raised the issue of Gama with the Tánaiste in
November 2003. He has called on Mary Harney to make a full statement
outlining the actions which she and her Department took once the
significant concerns regarding the pay and conditions of workers employed
by Gama were brought to her attention.

Deputy Morgan "Mary Harney must take responsibility for the abuse of
migrant workers by Gama Construction. These issues were brought o her
attention in 2003 when she was Minister for Enterprise, Trade and
Employment. I myself wrote to her on 9th October 2003 in which I echoed
the concerns of BATU that Gama Construction was not in compliance with the
regulations then in force. I asked her to " initiate an immediate review
of any and all work permits issued to this company".

"I also submitted a PQ at the end of October 2003 which I asked her if,
with respect to the employment of Turkish employees, there were inspections
by her Department to confirm that those who received permits were in
compliance with the terms of their permits.

„The Tánaiste needs to make a full statement to the house outlining the
actions which she and her Department took once the significant concerns
regarding the pay and conditions of workers employed by Gama were brought
to her attention.‰ ENDS

To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the
criteria for issuing work permits to citizens of Turkey to work here; the
number of Turkish people who have applied for such permits since 2000; the
number of Turkish people who have been granted work permits since 2000; and
if there are inspections by her Department to confirm that those who
received permits in that time are in compliance with the terms of their
permits.

- Arthur Morgan.

* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 4th November, 2003.

Ref No: 25284/03

R E P L Y

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ms Harney).

Employers wishing to employ Turkish nationals on work permits have to meet
the same criteria as in the case of other non-EEA nationals. The employer
applies for the work permit.

The number of permits granted in respect of Turkish nationals since year
2000 is as follows:-

New Renewal Total

2000 49 20 69

2001 89 31 120

2002 86 70 156

2003 342 86 428

A significant number of the personnel in question are accounted for by one
employer, a Turkish civil engineering concern.

Where overseas contractors have been successful in winning significant
infrastructure contracts such as those at the power stations in Lanesboro,
Shannon bridge, the Ballincollig by-pass and social housing in Dublin, the
Department has been, and still is, prepared to issue work permits to allow
in a specified number of foreign employees to deliver on foot of such
contracts, on the following basis:

· The number of permits issued is limited in respect of each contract;

· employees are tied to the contractor while in Ireland;

· permits are of specified duration;

· permits allow the employment of an employee only on a specified
contract site;

· Irish employment law applies in each case e.g. the relevant

Registered Employment Agreement (REA) must be must be observed in each case.

The contractors in question, to date mainly Turkish and Polish companies,
are in effect, Contract Service Suppliers. This refers to a situation
where a company based outside the State wins a contract with a client
company based in Ireland and wishes to bring in non-EEA personnel to work
here on the client site as part of that contract. It is normal
international practice to provide for the limited entry of employees in
such circumstances. This also features in Mode 4 of the emerging WTO/GATS
framework. Indeed, the Department would be happy to see further interest
from overseas contractors in the area of infrastructure.

The number of employees allowed into the State, even for Contract Service
Suppliers, will continue to depend on conditions in the labour market
here and the relevant construction unions in Ireland are quite
familiar with this approach. The construction sector in Ireland is still
enjoying very buoyant conditions.

All employees in Ireland enjoy the protection of employment rights
legislation and, where specific complaints are made, my Department is
prepared to investigate.

Deputy Ó Snodaigh said, "This morning I learned that over 200 residents,
mostly men, at two Dublin hostels yesterday received letters from the
immigration authorities. These letters stated that they must report to a
Garda in their hostel everyday at 5 o clock. They were told that this was
being set in place to prepare for their mass deportation. I am informed
that these people are all parents of Irish children.

"Seventy of these men from a hostel on Gardiner Street are at the moment on
hunger strike and I believe there are another thirty preparing to go on
hunger strike at a hostel on Hatch Street.

"I want the Minister to hear this loud and clear. Mass
deportations are wrong and I believe contrary to the European Convention
on Human Rights. No parents of Irish children should be removed from
this country. All Irish child citizens must have the equal right to
remain in their country of nationality in the care and company of their
parents. I am calling on Minister McDowell to suspend any deportation
plans and grant permanent residency to these parents to safeguard the
rights of these children and their families."ENDS

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Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams MP has expressed deep concern at the
continued exclusion of political parties including Batasuna and Aukera
Guztiak from contesting this weekend's regional elections in the Basque
Country. Despite the fact that Aukera Guztiak (All Options) had collected
the required 30,000 signatures to contest the election and were approved by
the Electoral Commission they have been banned by the Spanish Government and
prevented from contesting Sunday's election.

Mr. Adams said:

"Following the Good Friday Agreement I travelled to the Basque Country and
the message that I brought was the need for a peace process to be
established and that it was essential that it be on the basis of equality,
not criminalisation and exclusion.

"I travelled to the Basque Country again in January 2005 and offered my
support and assistance in building an inclusive process.

"Sinn Féin believes that all sections of Basque nationalism want to
seriously engage in a peace process. Therefore we are deeply concerned that
legislation remains in place to ban political parties such as Batasuna and
Aukera Guztiak and a range of Basque cultural and youth organisations.

"Our experience of conflict resolution has shown that the only way that
progress will occur is on the basis of inclusive dialogue based on equality
and respect.

"Sinn Féin supports efforts within the Basque Country to establish such a
process and believe that such moves should be responded to positively by the
Spanish Government and supported by the International Community."ENDS

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Sinn Fein Economy Spokesperson, Mitchel McLaughlin MLA has called on Direct
Rule Minister, Ian Pearson to designate the NorthWest Region as an area of
'Exceptional need'.

Mr. Mc Laughlin said:

"When we look at the different economic news for areas that a geographically
so close it is clear that in the north we are being badly let down. Contrast
the recent announcement further job losses at the Marks and Spencer's
(Desmonds) distribution centre in Claudy with the simultaneous announcement
by IDA Ireland of over 100 Research and Development jobs in SITA Letterkenny
and an additional 300 jobs in Toucan's new Software Centre in Sligo.

"While Invest NI fiddles IDA delivers. These jobs are to be copper-fastened
by a further €2.5million investment within the Letterkenny Institute of
Technology's Business Development Centre by the Department of Enterprise,
Trade and Employment.

"At a time in which INI has apparently abandoned Derry to its own devices
with the loss of over 5,000 jobs in this region in recent years these IDA
successes put paid to INI's hollow claims that it is impossible to attract
Direct Foreign Investment to a peripheral region such as the 6 counties.
INI appear either unable or unwilling to learn from their near neighbours
ability to continuously deliver jobs 20 miles down the road from Derry and
IDA recognition of the necessity to complement such inward investment by
providing the new knowledge based infrastructure that such investment
requires.

"The NorthWest Region should be declared an area of 'exceptional need' with
the required investment in infrastructure to attract inward investment."ENDS

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Sinn Féin South Belfast Westminster candidate Cllr Alex Maskey MLA speaking
at the launch of Sinn Féin's anti-racism Charter has said that totally
commitment to tackling racism and challenged all of the other political
parties to rise the challenge of not just speaking out against racism but
also to stand together against racism and act against racism.

Speaking from South Belfast former Belfast mayor Mr Maskey said:

"In recent times there has been a marked increase in the volume of racially
motivated attacks, particularly here in Belfast and in parts of Upper Bann.
Those of us in political leadership have a responsibility to challenge this
directly.

"This charter does not pretend to be a solution to these attacks or this
activity. But we hope that it can become part of a political response to the
upsurge in racism. It is our pledge to take action to confront racism and
our commitment to specific principles of good practice. Hopefully its sets a
benchmark for all of the other political parties to rise the challenge of
not just speaking out against racism but also to stand together against
racism and act against racism.

"Political parties have to make it clear that there is no place in our
society for the sort of racism and intolerance which has sadly been on the
increase.

"The Good Friday Agreement is about creating a tolerant and peaceful
society, not simply for nationalists, republicans, unionists or loyalists
but for all who live here.

"Sinn Féin will continue to meet with and engage with ethnic minority
communities across the island and we will continue to confront and challenge
racism from whatever quarter." ENDS

Note to Editors

Sinn Féin anti-racist pledge

Having regard to the ratified international human rights instruments, in
particular the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Racial Discrimination,

Sinn Féin pledge to uphold article 1, which defines racial discrimination as
"any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race,
colour, descent or national or ethnic origin which has the purpose or effect
of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise on an
equal footing of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political,
economic, social, cultural of any other field of public life'.

Sinn Féin pledge to uphold the Treaty of Amsterdam which enables the
European Community to "take appropriate action to combat discrimination
based on ... racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief".

Sinn Féin pledge to recognise that the fundamental rights as enshrined in
the international human rights instruments signed and ratified by the EU
member states include the right to free and uninhibited political speech and
debate.

Sinn Féin pledge to ensure that these international human rights instruments
ensure that political freedoms are not absolute in view of the equally
fundamental right to be protected against racial discrimination and that
political freedoms cannot be allowed to be abused to exploit, cause or
initiate prejudice on the grounds of race, colour, ethnic origin or
nationality or for the purpose of seeking to gain the sympathy of the
electorate for prejudice on such grounds.

Sinn Féin pledge that being aware of the special tasks and responsibilities
of political parties in a democratic political process, to defend, articulate
and bear witness to the basic principles of a democratic society; a
platform for discussion on issues where there may be differences of opinion,
integrating different views into the process of political decision making,
thereby enabling society to solve conflicts of interest and of opinion
between various social groups through dialogue rather than through opting
out and conflict.

Sinn Féin pledge to ensure that free use of political rights can and must go
hand in hand with firmly upholding the principle of non-discrimination and is
inherent in the democratic process itself.

Sinn Féin pledge to ensure that representation of ethnic minority groups in
the political process is properly an integral part of the democratic process,
since political parties are or should strive to be a reflection of society.

Sinn Féin commit to specific principles of good practice:

To defend basic human rights and democratic principles and reject all
forms of racist violence, incitement to racial hatred and harassment and
any form of racial discrimination.

To refuse to display, publish or to distribute or endorse in any way views
and positions which stir up or invite, or may reasonable be expected to
stir up or to invite prejudices, hostility or division between people of
different ethnic or national origins or religious beliefs, and to deal
firmly with any racist sentiments and behavior within its own ranks.

To deal responsibly and fairly with sensitive topics relating to such
groups and to avoid their stigmatisation.

To refrain from any form of political alliance or cooperation at all
levels with any political party, which incites or attempts to stir up
racial or ethnic prejudices and racial hatred.

To take appropriate action to ensure that all persons who work for or
associate themselves in any way with any of our election campaigns or
other activities will be aware of and at all times act in accordance with
the above principles.

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Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams was today joined by the party's other three
Belfast Westminster candidates, Alex Maskey, Deborah Devenny and Gerry Kelly
as they handed in their nomination papers at the Electoral Office.Speaking
to the media outside Mr Adams said:

"We take nothing for granted going into any election campaign. This one is
no different. There are in my view seven winnable seats. It is far too early
to call how we will do. At the last Westminster election we only won one of
the seats we currently hold by 53 votes. So we have to go out and engage
with the electorate on doors across the six counties.

" This is a crucially important election. This election is about the future.
It is about the type of future people want and it is about who they want to
lead them.. It is about the peace and it is about the type of Ireland we
want to build. It is about leadership and giving leadership. It is also
about the bread and butter issues - social and economic concerns which
impact on peoples everyday lives." ENDS

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"On Tuesday evening I visited Tallaght Hospital to see first hand the state
of the Accident and Emergency Department. What I found was very
disheartening in a state of the art hospital. Sixty-two patients were on
trolleys awaiting treatment while at the entrance to the A&E there were
large numbers awaiting assessment. The following night there were 67 people on
trolleys, which represents an all-time high. The situation has clearly got
worse since Mary Harney took the position as Minister for Health and
Children.

"The way to resolve this situation is to provide more beds to deal with the
increasing number of patients and to recruit additional nurses to reduce
the pressure on the existing staff.

"I want to congratulate the Irish Nurses Organisation for standing up and
saying 'enough is enough'. Every day we here of the pressures nursing staff
are under to cope with the poorly resourced and overcrowded facilities they
work in. They deserve full public support. So I am calling on everybody,
Sinn Féin members and the general public, to support the INO by joining and
participating in these protests around the country for the rest of the month."
ENDS

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Sinn Féin Health and Children spokesperson and Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó
Caoláin is this afternoon joining the protest by the Irish Nurses
Organisation at Cavan General Hospital. Speaking prior to the protest,
Deputy Ó Caoláin said:

"The failure of the Government to implement its own Health Strategy means
that nurses have been forced to stage this protest campaign. They deserve
full public support.

"The disgraceful situation in our public hospital A&E units is preventable.
Many of the remedies are in the Government's own Health Strategy which it
has failed to implement. These include:

More acute beds in our hospitals as promised

The recruitment of the additional nurses required

The roll-out of promised Primary Care centres to help take the pressure
off our hospitals

The conclusion of the negotiations with hospital consultants for a new
contract and exclusive working by new consultants in the public system

Restoration of A&E services in local hospitals where they have been
cut.

"It is scandalous that once again the number of people on trolleys and
chairs in A&E units reached an all-time high this year.

"Nurses and front-line health service workers are to be commended for
taking action on behalf of patients. The pressure should be maintained until
Minister Harney fulfils the promises she made last autumn to ensure real
improvements in A&E by the spring of 2005." ENDS

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Sinn Féin spokesperson on Justice, Equaltiy and Human Rights, Aengus Ó
Snodaigh TD has expressed his disappointment at the failure of Justice
Minister, Michael McDowell to provide necessary clarifications to his
response yesterday to a series of questions posed by Sinn Féin deputies
regarding the assassination of Sinn Féin Councillor Eddie Fullerton in his
Buncrana home in 1991.

Deputy Ó Snodaigh said, "I welcomed the Minister's original reply to the
questions posed by my colleagues and myself in regard to the Fullerton
case. But I was disappointed that he did not see fit to address all of the
issues that we raised. Clarification was, and still is, needed on a number
of issues including the reason why the reinvestigation was delayed by some
fourteen months, whether the Minister will commit to publish the final
report on the reinvestigation, and most importantly if the Minister has in
fact raised this case directly with the British Government. If he has, we
need to know how long they have been holding back the necessary information
and cooperation. If he hasn't then we need to know why, and we also need a
commitment from him to do so immediately.

"Last night I asked the Minister for some clarity on these issues but
unfortunately the only reply I got was a rehash of his original statement in
response to the questions posed by my colleagues and myself. I am
disappointed that the Minister has not taken the opportunity to clarify
these issues but I will continue to seek answers to these very important
questions over the coming days and weeks.

"The Fullerton family deserve every support in their search for truth and
justice." ENDS

Note to editor:

The following is the transcript of from last nights exchange in the Dáil,

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: In 1991, Donegal Sinn Féin County Councillor, Eddie
Fullerton, was assassinated by a British pseudo-gang, a loyalist death squad,
at his home in Buncrana. His killing was later claimed by the UDA, using
their other name, the UFF. No one has ever been convicted or charged with
his killing. There is evidence of British armed forces collusion in his
death. Eddie's photograph was among crown forces photomontages seized from
loyalists by the Stephens Inquiry team six months after Eddie's killing,
which probably came from their masters, the force research unit. Many
believe that Eddie, who was shot just one month before local elections that
year, was targeted as part of a wider campaign against Sinn Féin
members, eight of whom were assassinated between 1989 and 1992.

There are also serious questions about irregularities in the Garda
investigation. A number of the Donegal gardaí who are the subject of the
Morris tribunal were involved in the Fullerton investigation, including
disgraced Garda Noel McMahon. Despite this, the Fullerton family's requests
to have the conduct of the gardaí in the case investigated by the
Morris tribunal were refused. A reinvestigation into the case finally
commenced 14 years later, not as a result of diligence on the part of the
gardaí or the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, but because of
the efforts of the Fullerton family who presented a dossier to the Minister
demanding his assistance in the search for the truth. The Minister
subsequently directed not a full public inquiry, but an internal
re-examination of the case by the Garda Commissioner. This has resulted in
an interim report to the Minister, which has never been published.

Yesterday, the Minister answered a series of questions I and my party
colleagues put to him in the case. I welcome the Minister's reply,
particularly in that it makes very clear that the British Government and the
PSNI are holding up the process of finding out the truth about collusion in
this case, and that it also leaves open the possibility of a public inquiry.
However, I still need clarification on a number of issues. In his answer
yesterday, the Minister said the family's dossier amounted to no more than
what was raised directly with the Garda Síochána 14 months
previously. Will the Minister clarify why the matter was delayed until June
2003 rather than being addressed in April 2002 when this information came to
light. In his answer yesterday, the Minister said that he will not publish
the interim report he has received on the case because it is incomplete due
to the outstanding information needed from the British authorities and the
PSNI. However, he avoids committing to publishing the final report. We
need this commitment now. The Fullerton family, the people of Buncrana and
the Irish people as a whole deserve to know the truth about the
assassination of this elected representative. Question marks also remain
over the serious deficiencies in the original Garda investigation, including
its failure to interview key suspects and a witness. The public deserves to
know the truth about this.

Disturbingly, despite a direct question on the matter, it is unclear from
the Minister's reply whether he has raised this case with the British
Government. If he has not done so, I want a clear commitment as to when he
will do so, as the assassination of an Irish public representative as a
result of British intelligence collusion with a loyalist death squad is a
matter of the utmost seriousness and of public importance. If he has done
so, I would appreciate clarification as to exactly when the British
Government was made aware of the outstanding matters necessary to complete
the investigation. I need to know at what level the matter was raised. Was
it with the British Prime Minister or at ministerial level? When were the
police-to-police inquiries made and has the PSNI or British authorities
given a timeframe as to when the outstanding information and co-operation
will be provided?

I submit to the Minister Sinn Féin's position that, just as in the Pat
Finucane case and all other cases where there is evidence that British crown
forces colluded with loyalist death squads to target Irish citizens, there
is an urgent need for a full public inquiry into the assassination of Eddie
Fullerton.

Mr. McDowell: As I have already put on the record of this House, the murder
in 1991 of Mr. Eddie Fullerton, who was then a Sinn Féin councillo on
Donegal County Council, was a most dreadful and heinous crime. I use the
words "murder" and "crime" in respect of it. Regardless of who did it
or why they did it, it is a murder and a crime, and the Deputy might note
that. Unfortunately, to date, nobody has been made amenable for this
appalling crime.

The so-called Ulster Freedom Fighters subsequently claimed responsibility
for the murder, claiming that Councillor Fullerton was killed because he
passed information to the Provisional IRA. It should be stated
unequivocally that the subsequent Garda investigation indicated that there
was no evidence to substantiate that claim, not that this is in any way
relevant to what was cold-blooded, calculated and callous murder.

I am aware that since 2002 the Fullerton family has raised concerns about
the murder and the ensuing investigations. In particular, the family has
been calling for some form of inquiry into the matter. In April 2002, these
concerns were raised directly with the Garda authorities in Buncrana.
Subsequently, in June 2003, solicitors acting on behalf of the Fullerton
family submitted to me a memorandum setting out these concerns, as well as
outlining what is described as new evidence and new concerns. Included in
these additional matters are references to a person characterised as a new
"witness". This person made a statement to the Fullerton family's
solicitors about events he allegedly witnessed shortly after the murder of
Councillor Fullerton. According to the solicitors, these purported events
pose radical questions for the integrity of the official Garda and RUC
investigations into the murder.

"In response to the submission of this memorandum and out of a genuine
desire to seek to address the concerns of the Fullerton family, I referred
the memorandum to the Garda Commissioner, who established a review team led
by a chief superintendent to conduct a thorough and concise investigation
into all matters of concern raised. The Garda review has been extremel
extensive. I say that because I have seen the interim report, the scope of
which has been enormous. It has involved interviews with more than 120
people and the taking of more than 150 witness statements. Recently, I have
been in receipt of that interim report from the Garda authorities on the
current, incomplete state of the review.

"Although I do not plan to go into detail on the matter, I can confirm to
the Deputy that members of the Garda review team interviewed the person
characterised as a new witness to clarify his recollection of events on the
day of the murder. I am informed that this person has stated that he could
no longer stand over the statement he made to the Fullerton family's
solicitor and, instead, made a new statement to the Garda review team.

"I am pleased to report that the Garda review is drawing to a conclusion.
The only outstanding matters relate to the awaited results of a mutual
assistance request to the British authorities and certain police-to-police
inquiries with the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

"I have heard suggestions that the British and Northern Ireland
authorities are failing to co-operate with these requests. I have no reason
whatsoever to believe, nor have I received any indication, that either the
British or Northern Ireland authorities have failed or will fail to
co-operate. In this regard, it is a simple reality that such
cross-jurisdictional inquiries often take an extended period to complete.
This is particularly the case in regard to mutual assistance requests, which
are quasi-judicial in nature.

"No final conclusions can be drawn from the review until such replies from
the British and Northern Ireland authorities are received, evaluated and acted
upon, as appropriate, by the Garda Síochána. Although I do not
intend to publish the Garda report which I recently received, I have
undertaken to contact the Fullerton family's solicitors with a full response
to their concerns, as soon as all the outstanding matters are clarified by
the Garda Síochána.

"It should be noted that the Fullerton family and their solicitors have
been kept informed of developments by the Garda chief superintendent in
charge of the review, who met them in December 2004. The investigation file
in this case remains open and I will be in contact with the family directly
in due course when the current review of all matters raised with me is
brought to a definitive conclusion.